written and photographed by Mary L. Peachin
Mar 2002, Vol. 6 No. 5
In the early hours of the morning, anglers gather in the South terminal near Vancouver International Airport. Many boast t-shirts from other fishing destinations, and a few lovingly grasp new rod cases. Though a good number are exhausted by jetlag or late night pre-fishing partying, their excitement permeates the small building. Those arriving on inbound flights from fishing camps line up at baggage claim, eager to pick up their boxed trophies: personally caught cases of fresh, smoked, or canned salmon. Once they’ve claimed their fish, they share stories with the outgoing anglers, who are headed out to the Queen Charlottes, Vancouver and Malcolm Islands, Desolation Sound, Princess Royal Island or inland to the Kootenays, Kamloops, Skeena, and Chilcotin regions of British Columbia.